Abstract:
A method for enhancing the solderability of a metallic surface is disclosed where the metallic surface is plated with an immersion or electroless silver plate prior to soldering, after which immersion silver plate is treated with an alkaline polymer coating comprising aqueous vinyl polymers, aqueous acrylic polymers, anti-fungal agents and a benzotriazole or benzimidazole compound to produce a deposit that is resistant to electromigration and that provides an anti-tarnish and anti-corrosion coating on the surface.
Abstract:
Printed circuit boards having solder coated pads and through-holes (140) and bare copper traces (160) protected by a directly applied solder mask (260) or by a coating of non-reflowable metal and a solder mask thereover, are manufactured by a process which avoids the need for tin-lead stripping and the need for separate application and leveling of molten solder. In the preferred process, liquid resists (240) are applied to circuit boards having tin-lead (220) over copper plated holes (140) and pads so as to define and etch-protect bare copper traces (160) of desired pattern circuitry (as well as other desired configurations). Copper areas other than those protected by the etch-resist (240) and tin-lead plating (220) are etched away, the etch-resist (240) removed and solder mask (260) applied over the bare copper traces (160) or other desired bare copper areas or, alternatively, to bare copper first coated with a non-reflowable metal. The tin-lead plating (220) is then preferably reflowed and solidified to provide the pads and through-holes with solder coating.